How to get from Ninh Binh to CatBa

Why visit CatBa?

Cat Ba is a biodiverse island along Vietnam’s northeast coast. The largest of the islands in Halong Bay, Cat Ba boasts a rugged karst landscape dotted with spectacular limestone cliffs, sandy beaches, lakes, grottoes, and waterfalls.

Popular activities include kayaking and rock climbing, but you can also just lounge by the beach and wait for the sunset at Cannon Fort. The island rose in popularity in recent years, but we love that most areas remain untouched in Cat Ba.

There are 4 ways to travel the 125 kilometers (78 miles) from Ninh Binh to CatBa. You can choose between the bus + ferry, shared minivan + ferry, private transport and ferry + bus. The journey takes 4 to 6 hours and the quickest way is by bus + ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus + ferry with tickets starting at 203,000 VND ($7.80).

There are several bus and ferry trips available daily from Tam Coc or Ninh Binh to CatBa. The Long Travel, Daiichi Travel, Limousine Tam Coc Ninh Binh, Full Moon Party, Good Morning Cat Ba, Cat Ba Discovery and TBus are seven of the main operators for this route.

Both receive fairly good reviews, but we prefer travelling with Daiichi as they offer free hotel drop-off in CatBa. Fares start from 203,000 VND ($7.80).

The bus and ferry journey from Ninh Binh to CatBa takes around 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes. Operators usually follow this route:

• A bus brings you from Tam Coc or Ninh Binh to Ben Binh Ferry Port in Hai Phong.
• From there, you will be transferred to a ferry that takes you to Cai Vieng Pier on the northeast coast of CatBa.
• In Cai Vieng, you will board the bus again to get to CatBa town centre on the south coast.

Departure and arrival station

Buses depart from their company’s respective offices in Tam Coc town centre, although The Long Travel also picks up passengers in Ninh Binh City.

Both companies park in CatBa town centre. Daiichi also offers free drop-off directly at your hotel’s doorstep.

Are you planning to explore Hai Phong on your way to CatBa? If yes, then you can also book separate tickets for your bus and ferry trips from Ninh Binh to CatBa.

The Long Travel operates two daily bus trips from Tam Coc town centre to Hai Phong city centre. A ticket costs 208,000 VND ($8) for the journey that takes 3h - 4h 30m.

Buses depart from The Long Hotel in Tam Coc and arrive at Nha Hat Lon in Hai Phong city centre, just 1 km south of Ben Binh Harbour.

IMPORTANT: When buying your ticket online, make sure to book a bus that arrives in Nha Hat Lon. Other buses go all the way to Got Pier, which is located 30 km away from Hai Phong city centre.

When taking a ferry from Hai Phong to CatBa, it’s best to depart from Ben Binh Pier or Pha Binh.

First, Ben Binh Pier is located just about 2 km north of Hai Phong city centre. Second, ferries operating from Ben Binh will take you directly to CatBa Pier in the island’s town centre.

Ferries depart from Ben Binh Pier and dock at CatBa Pier, which is located within walking distance of many hotels in CatBa town centre.

A shared minivan + ferry ride from Ninh Binh to CatBa costs around 382,000 VND ($14.70). The minivan journey takes about 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

There are two companies operating on this route: Limousine Tam Coc Ninh Binh and Cat Ba Limousine Bus.

What we like about this option is that some minivan companies offer free hotel pickup and drop-off. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to and from bus stations.

Shared Minivan + Ferry options from Ninh Binh to CatBa

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Ninh Binh to CatBa.

Rates start from 2,855,000 VND ($110) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 952,000 VND ($36.50) per person. Travel time is around 4 hours 30 minutes.

Private Transport options from Ninh Binh to CatBa